OROVILLE — A 71-year-old Gridley man allegedly told California Highway Patrol investigators that he panicked after hitting a Durham bicyclist on the Midway last month, so he fled.

Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said he expects Anton "Tony" Mardesich to plead guilty today for the hit-and-run death of Rick Magee.

Charges were filed Tuesday against Mardesich for felony hit-and-run causing death and felony insurance fraud, Ramsey said. He faces up to six years in prison.

Magee's longtime friend, Steve Centanni, said he is thankful for CHP investigators' diligent work and that he is confident the DA will vigorously prosecute Mardesich. "It appears clear that the driver responsible for the death of our friend and family member, Rick Magee, engaged in repeated criminal activity — first by fleeing the scene after fatally injuring Rick and then by filing a fraudulent insurance claim to cover up his crime," according to an email from Magee's friends and family. "The defendant made tragically wrong decisions in evading responsibility before police found him and made the arrest. We urge the maximum possible penalty be imposed on both counts — felony hit-and-run and insurance fraud — in order to send a message that this kind of behavior is unacceptable, and to help ensure safety and security in our neighborhoods."

About 3 p.m. Nov. 14, Mardesich was driving north on the Midway at Roble Road and allegedly drifted onto the shoulder, running into bicyclist Magee, the DA said. Magee, 61, was launched past his domestic partner riding in front of him and smacked into the pavement. Mardesich kept driving.

At least one witness saw an SUV strike Magee, Ramsey said.

Magee had severe head and internal injuries, said Officer Justin Maxey of California Highway Patrol. He died five hours later at Enloe Medical Center.

The next day, Mardesich, a farm manager, allegedly took his 2007 Ford Edge to a Gridley auto body shop for repairs and said an oak limb fell on it as he drove it through the orchards, Ramsey said. He made the same claim to the insurance company. The SUV had damage to the right front headlight assembly, right fender and passenger-side windshield.

On Nov. 16, a windshield repairman came to the shop to give an estimate on the SUV, saw what he thought was human hair in the windshield and told the shop's secretary, according to the DA. Three days later, a painter saw Mardesich come into the shop's yard and allegedly smear mud on the SUV's right headlight and windshield. He also told the secretary.

That night, the shop's secretary saw a local television broadcast about the hit-and-run that mentioned a silver SUV or truck as the suspect vehicle. The next day, she called CHP.

CHP responded and impounded the SUV that day, Nov. 20, and got a search warrant Nov. 21 to seize it to have the Department of Justice crime lab collect evidence.

Investigators then asked Mardesich to come into the CHP office in Chico after Thanksgiving. He had two "cardiac events" sending him to the hospital during the holiday, his family and attorney told investigators.

Mardesich's attorney brought him the CHP on Nov. 27, "saying his client wished to confess his actions as 'he could no longer live' with his concealment of the truth," Ramsey said. He cooperated with officers, allegedly admitting to running into a bicyclist.

The Gridley man allegedly said he looked down at the center console for a second and when he looked up again, he was on the shoulder and saw a bicyclist right in front of his SUV, Ramsey said. Mardesich said he turned sharply to the left, but still hit the bicyclist. He continued several hundred yards over the overpass and stopped, but then panicked and fled.

Mardesich also allegedly admitted to lying to his family and insurance company about what caused the SUV's damage.

CHP investigators found no evidence of drugs, alcohol, excessive speed, or cellphone use in the case, Ramsey said. The man told officers he did not remember why he looked down. Mardesich is not in custody and is expected to turn himself in to court today. He has no criminal record, Ramsey said.

If Mardesich pleads guilty, Ramsey said the case will likely to go to the probation department for their sentencing recommendation. He might not be sentenced for two months.

Ramsey thinks the DOJ probably will not analyze the evidence, which can take months, and instead spend time on active cases.

The DA said he told Magee's loved one that they charged what they could, but the legislature sets sentences.

"No one will ever feel that the amount of time is sufficient when they lost a loved one in the tragic circumstances of this case," Ramsey said. "I can't disagree with him."

If the driver had stopped, the crash would have been a misdemeanor. Ramsey said it's a crime of irresponsibility and callousness.

"It's the fact that he left Mr. Magee there dying along the side of the road that makes it a felony," he said.

Maxey credited the media and the people in the shop for leading CHP to Mardesich.

"There are too many places this car could have gone," Maxey said. "Without the public's eye, chances of finding this car were pretty remote."

Maxey said it's best to take responsibility immediately.

"You really can't ever go wrong with the truth," Maxey said. "Sometimes it's not the easiest thing to do but surely it's the right thing to do."